SPRINGFIELD – In the earliest beginnings of 4-H, the children of Peter and Anna Mohr were leading generations of Central Illinois youth. Their descendants, including Lynn Remmert, a Piatt County 4-H club leader of the Prairie Kids, were honored as the 2019 Illinois 4-H Foundation Family Spirit winners during a ceremony August 13 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

Peter Mohr came to America from Germany in 1857 and married Anna. Of their seven children, Laura and May Mohr, born in 1896 and 1906, served as leaders of the Silver Leaf Let’s Go Girls 4-H Club in McLean County for 40 years. In total, 75 family members with roots to Peter and Anna are affiliated with 4-H. Combined, they share 530 years of membership, 303 years of club leadership and 368 years of volunteer service to 4-H.

“We have learned, first hand, that 4-H teaches youth many valuable life skills,” a family spokesman said, “and we all enjoy sharing our time and talent to help empower the next generation of youth by teaching them they can make the best better.”

The 4-H Foundation Family Spirit award recognizes Illinois families who have benefited from 4-H and continue to advocate for the Illinois 4-H program over multiple generations. In addition to length of 4-H membership, families advocate for the county and state 4-H programs through their community service and philanthropy.

Piatt County 4-H is provided through University of Illinois Extension and is open to youth ages 8 to 18. Youth learn skills for living by participating in individual or group learning experiences related to more than 200 project areas.